TikTok users can now book hotel accommodation directly through the social media app following an integration with Booking.com that transforms travel inspiration into reservations. Olivia Palamountain reports

The new TikTok x Booking.com collaboration allows TikTok users browsing inspirational travel content to book the accommodation they like directly through the app.

Users can simply enter check-in and check-out dates and then book available rooms at specific hotels, with each property receiving a dedicated landing page containing prices, amenities, reviews, local activities and related TikTok videos. Users can also tag hotels in their own videos, increasing property visibility across the platform.

Hotel booking integration represents a significant step in social media platforms monetising travel content, as users increasingly turn to apps like TikTok for destination inspiration and trip planning. The feature capitalises on the platform's visual storytelling format, which has proven particularly effective for showcasing travel experiences.

In a similar vein, London startup Curated Spaces has also combined the creator economy with travel bookings, allowing influencers to curate and earn from independent accommodation recommendations.

Curated Spaces positions itself as a free, accessible alternative to membership-based travel clubs or paywall-protected recommendation services, with a concept  that addresses what Cooper identifies as frustrations within both travel planning and creator monetisation.

Rather than requiring travellers to piece together recommendations from social media posts, podcasts or blogs, the platform makes creator suggestions directly bookable whilst providing transparent attribution and fair rewards for influencer partners. Find the full story here.

Alongside the booking functionality, TikTok has launched TikTok Go, a creator monetisation programme that enables local merchants including hotels to pay influencers commissions or offer vouchers for promoting their businesses. Creators must maintain at least 1,000 followers, be 18 or older and hold accounts in good standing to qualify for the programme.

Creators participating in TikTok Go can set their location and view available tasks from hotels and other venues such as restaurants, earning commissions by driving sales through promotional content.

Travel creator Amanda Dishman, who runs family blog Salty Vagabonds and gained TikTok Go access this week, welcomes the programme's accessibility. "The barrier to entry into being able to make commission, they just slashed that in half and really made it accessible to a lot more people," she tells Business Insider.

TikTok previously introduced booking features for concert and movie tickets through partnerships with the likes of Ticketmaster and Fandango, establishing precedent for transaction capabilities within the app.

The TikTok Go programme could create new revenue streams for travel influencers, though commissions from expensive purchases like hotel stays may occur less frequently compared to cheaper TikTok Shop items including clothing and accessories.